Cradle mounting structure for refrigerating units



F. R. ECK

Aug. 3, 1954 CRADLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATING UNITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16. 1951 ll... n m

INVENTOR. FLOYD R. ECK BY 4/ Y y ATTORNEYS F.- R. ECK

CRADLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1951 INVENTOR.

I FLOYD R.ECK

ATTO R N EYS F. R. ECK

Aug. 3, 1954 CRADLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1951 FIG.5.

FIG.8.

INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. ECK BY ATTONEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1954 CRADLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATING UNITS Floyd R. Eck, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of New York Application April 16, 1951, Serial No. 221,302

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of refrigeration, and more particularly to an improved mounting mean for a motor-compressor unit and a condenser.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cradle mounting structure for supporting a motor-compressor unit and a condenser characterized by its simplicity, the economy with which it may be produced, its strength, and its capability of supporting the operating parts in a manner to prevent injury or deterioration due to vibration.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece cradle construction designed to support a motor-compressor unit and condenser.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elongated cradle type support provided along its longitudinal edges with upstanding stiffening flanges, spaced portions of these flanges at one side of the cradle being extended upwardly to provide means for attachment of a condenser unit thereto.

It is a further object of the present inven tion to provide a resiliently mounted cradle support for a motor-compressor and condenser assembly in which means are provided for supporting the condenser in laterally extending relation with respect to the support and in which the means for supporting the motor-compressor unit is located at the side of a line of symmetry determined by the location of the resilient supports opposite to the upwardly extending flange portions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cradle support of the type described in combination with resilient mounting means of novel form.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the cradle, the support means therefor, and showing the motor-compressor and condenser carried thereby.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2 with parts in section.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cradle.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the cradle.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section through the resilient mounting means for the cradle.

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation partly in section showing the connection between the motorcompressor and the cradle support.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the lower part of a refrigerator, showing the general relationship of the parts.

Referring now to the drawings the cradle sup port and the parts carried thereby are designed to be mounted in a compartment Ill located at the bottom rear of a refrigerator cabinet, a portion of which is indicated at I2 as seen in Figure 8. The cradle as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, comprises an elongated plate I4 formed of sheet metal and provided adjacent its ends with relatively narrow portions l6, each provided with a pair of openings [8 for association with resilient mounting means later to be described. The centrol portion 20 of the plate is depressed as best seen in Figure 5, and is connected to the end portions l6 by inclined portions 22. Enlarged openings 24 are formed in the plate adjacent each end thereof and preferably in the inclined portions 22. The material surrounding the openings 24 is bent upwardly to provide reinforcing flanges 26. Generally midway between the ends of the plate is an enlarged circular opening 28, and the material surrounding the opening 28 is bent upwardly to provide a reinforcing flange 30.

The longitudinal side edges of the plate are also formed upwardly to provide relatively wide stiffening and reinforcing flanges 32. By providing the reinforcing flanges 32 a sufficiently rigid cradle structure may be provided from relatively light sheet metal.

Spaced portions of one of the flanges 32 at one side of the plate are extended upwardly to provide supporting cars 34 for a purpose later to be described.

The plate is provided with a plurality of openings 36 which serve as means for attaching a motor-compressor assembly 38 thereto, as well illustrated in Figure 7.

It will be observed that the openings 36 and the enlarged circular opening 28 establish a line of symmetry 40 which is displaced laterally from a line of symmetry 42 established midway between a pair of openings l8 at each end of the plate, and that the direction in which the line of symmetry 40 is displaced from the line of symmetry 42 is in a direction away from the up standing ears 34. This is for the reason that a condenser assembly is secured to the ears 34 in laterally extending relation and by offsetting the motor-compressor unit away from the line of symmetry established by the resilient mountings for the plate, the assembled structure may be brought into substantial balance with equal or approximately equal weights supported on each of the resilient means located at the openings 18 previously referred to.

Referring now to Figures 1-3 and 7 the motorcompressor unit 38 is provided with a plurality of mounting members 44, each of which terminates in a fiat horizontally disposed foot portion 46 having an enlarged opening 48 therein. The cradle support i4 is provided with an upwardly embossed apertured projection 50 which is received within the opening 48. The assembly is completed by a stud 52 having a thin headed portion 54 received within the recess provided by the embossment 50, a washer 56 overlying the foot 46 and a nut 58 threaded to the stud 52.

By this arrangement the motor-compressor unit 38 is located over the enlarged circular opening 28 in upwardly spaced relation therefrom so as to provide for a substantial circulation of cooling air through the opening and around the motor-compressor unit.

A condenser indicated generally by the numeral so includes a pair of spaced mounting brackets 62, each of which terminates in an obliquely disposed attaching flange 64. Preferably, the brackets 62 include a reinforcing embossment 56 at the juncture between the bracket 62 proper and its attaching flange 64. The condenser includes the usual tubes 63. The flanges 84 are riveted or otherwise secured to the upstanding ears 34 as indicated at 10.

Since the condenser is supported in laterally extending relation from one side of the cradle support !4 it tends to produce a condition of unbalance. However, the motor-compressor unit 38 is much heavier than the condenser assembly and by offsetting the motor-compressor unit in a direction away from the condenser, a condition of balance is obtained to the required degree.

The cradle 44 with its associated operating mechanism is resiliently supported and for this purpose the refrigerator includes a pair of support plates 80 at the sides thereof which are of substantial length measured from front to back of the refrigerator as best seen in Figure 1. The plates 80 each includes a circular downwardly embossed portion 82 which rests; upon the floor and supports the refrigerator cabinet. Each of the plates 80 at the rear of the refrigerator includes inwardly extending supporting flanges 84 which are spaced above the floor and which are adapted to cooperate in the resilient support of the cradle H.

Details of this construction are best seen in Figure 6. In this figure it will be observed that the inwardly extending flange 34 of the base plates includes a relatively large opening 85 which is adapted to be in vertical registration with the smaller opening 68 provided in the narrow ends of the cradle. A grommet 88 formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material is provided with a laterally enlarged upper portion 90, a smaller laterally enlarged lower portion 92, and an annular groove 94 intermediate the enlarged portions. Preferably the upper en larged portion 91] includes a circular recess 96 giving a cup-like formation to the upper end of the grommet. The grommet is mounted in the opening 86 formed in the flange 84, the edges of the opening extending into the annular groove 94 of the grommet. The portion of the cradle M surrounding the opening 18 rests upon the upper surface of the enlarged upper end 90 of the grommet and is resiliently supported thereby. Extending through the grommet is a rigid tubular spacer 98 which is adapted at its upper end to abut against the underside of the cradle l4. At its lower end the spacer 98 engages a washer Hill. The parts are retained in assembled relation by a headed stud I02 and a nut Hi4 which applies pressure between the upper surface of the cradle l4 and the lower surface of the washer I00. The spacer functions to determine the amount of compression which is applied to the grommet by tightening the nut N14. The nut 104 is carried in a cage 105 having spring fingers interlocked with the edges of openings l8, which are square, as shown in Figure 4. The nut I04 is thus held against rotation and axial movement and prevents axial movement of the stud 102 when the parts are assembled. With the parts assembled it will be observed that the cradle 14 is vertically and to some extent transversely, movable with respect to the flange 84 due to the resilient character of the grommet 88. This resilient mounting therefore prevents shocks, jars, or vibration being transferred throughout the resilient mounting in any direction.

The provision of the stiifening flanges extending along the longitudinal sides of the cradle permit the use of relatively light metal in fabricating this element, thus reducing cost and overall width of the completed assembly. Moreover, by employing spaced portions of the stifiening flange at one side of the cradle as means for mounting the condenser to the cradle, a further simplification of construction results.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved cradle mounting structure in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a refrigerator, a cradle comprising an elongated sheet metal plate, a pair of laterally spaced means adjacent each end of the plate for attachment to resilient support means for sup porting said plate, said laterally spaced means establishing a line of symmetry connecting the mid-points of the lines joining the pair of laterally spaced means at each end of said plate, a motor-compressor unit mounted on said plate intermediate the ends thereof and laterally ofiset to one side of the line of symmetry, condenser support means at the edge of said plate opposite the edge toward which said unit is oiiset from the line of symmetry, a condenser on said condenser support means, said unit and condenser being substantially midway between the ends of said plate, the weight of said unit and said condenser substantially balancing each other about said line of symmetry to provide a substantial equal loading of the resilient means supporting said plate.

2. Structure of the character described in claim 1 in which the edges of said plate taper inwardly near the ends thereof to provide end portions which are relatively narrow as compared to the central portion thereof.

3. Structure of the character described in claim 1 in which the edge portions of said plate are turned upwardly to stiffen said plate, and in which the upturned edge portion adjacent said compressor is shaped to provide two longitudinally spaced upwardly extending ears constituting said condenser support means.

4. A cradle for supporting the motor-compres- 5. sor unit and condenser of a refrigerating system in balanced condition, said cradle comprising an elongated sheet metal plate, a pair of laterally spaced means adjacent each end of the plate for attachment to resilient support means for supporting said plate, said laterally spaced means establishing a line of symmetry connecting the mid-points of the lines joining the pair of laterally spaced means at each end of said plate, means on said plate for mounting a motor-compressor unit intermediate the ends of said plate and laterally offset to one side of the line of symmetry, condenser support means at the edge of said plate opposite the edge toward which said unit is ofiset from the line of symmetry adapted 15 to support a condenser in laterally outwardly extending relation from said plate, the means for supporting the unit and condenser being substantially midway between the ends of said plate 5 porting said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,440,935 See Jan. 2, 1923 1,537,601 Groh May 12, 1925 2,351,725 Wack June 20, 1944 2,366,284 Nofsinger Jan. 2, 1945 2,454,727 Wherry Nov. 23, 1948 2,520,757 Cain Aug. 29, 1950 2,536,811 Horlacher Jan. 2, 1951 2,551,514 Truelove et a1 May 1, 1951 

